CORDIS Archive

August
2004

Introducing the small revolution

Nanotechnology is the new know-how of creating structures at the scale of individual atoms and molecules. It promises to transform our lives, yet its fundamental and crossdisciplinary character makes it hard to explain to the non-specialist. Here is an introduction to the subject that is imaginative and well-illustrated.

With surprisingly little fanfare, nanotechnology is creeping into our lives. It is already used in products from sunscreen to self-cleaning window glass. Soon, manipulating matter at the level of individual atoms or molecules will affect every area in which materials science or chemistry can be used to advantage. And that means practically everything: computers, vehicles, clothes, sports equipment, space exploration, medicine and many other fields will never be the same again once they have been touched by this revolutionary field of knowledge.

Europe has a strong base in this cuttingedge technology, and the EU is keen to keep things that way. In May 2004, a Commission communication entitled Towards a European strategy for nanotechnology proposed greater spending on nanotech R&D so as to develop a world-class research infrastructure in the field. In addition, it recommended more training and better technology transfer. The Commission also wants more emphasis put on gauging the consequences of nanotechnology for society, including risk assessment.

Nanotechnology is so fundamental and wide-ranging that it is hard to explain to non-scientists – and even perhaps to scientists and engineers who are not accustomed to venturing beyond the boundaries of their own disciplines. Add in current concerns about whether nanotechnology will turn out to be safe, and there is a clear need for explanations that are accessible, yet provide more detail than is available in a newspaper or magazine article.

Getting the balance right

Nanotechnology: Innovation for Tomorrow’s World is one answer from the Commission to the need for a popular-yet-serious introduction to the subject. Its German focus reveals that the book was originally created by the German Association of Engineers (VDI), through a project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research. Author Mathias Schulenburg is an experienced science journalist and writer on nanotechnology and, appropriately for such a visual subject, there are plenty of illustrations.

At 50 pages, the book is short enough not to be daunting, yet it is detailed enough to satisfy anyone – except perhaps a specialist. It explains the physical and biological inspiration behind nanotechnology, the tools used to view and create nano-scale structures, and many current and future applications, from leisure clothing to space exploration. The wealth of examples from Germany should not be a problem for readers elsewhere, but some of the technical terms need more explanation.